Roy Exum: Why We Are So Angry

Tuesday, December 5, 2017
- by Roy Exum

Roy Exum

We are approaching “the mean season” in our United States and I don’t suspect I will miss the mark by much as I predict the 2018 election will be more volatile than any other in America’s history. Several weeks ago a Republican congressman from New Jersey, Tom MacArthur, got suckered into appearing at a Town Hall meeting and America’s Resistance was waiting with both barrels loaded.

For five hours he took a woodshed whipping, during which he said openly, "I hear people calling their congressman an idiot," he said. "I wonder, really wonder, how any one of you would perform in Congress."

One constituent, who was not identified, morphed on a rage, verbally slaying Rep.

MacArthur. One media outlet reported the voice from the audience “called the Congressman out" on his Trumpcare vote, “his lies, his working with Paul Ryan and other lawmakers who don’t care and his hypocrisy.”

The performance was worthy of an Oscar, but what you need to know is this -- one unidentified constituent placed in MacArthur’s lap an expletive-filled tirade worthy of an Oscar. The confrontation was unlike any other since 1776. Here’s a rough transcription after his allotted time was called:

* * *

“I’m not done yet! I’ve got the mic and I’m not going anywhere. Turn off the power—I’ve got a very loud voice!

“You (Rep MacArthur) have been the single greatest threat to my family in the entire world. YOU are the reason I stay up at night. YOU are the reason that I can’t sleep.

“My wife was diagnosed with cancer when she was 40 years old. She beat it, but every day, every day, she lives with it. She thinks about it. Every pain, every new something going on somewhere—“Is it coming back? Is this cancer? Do I have it again? Is it gonna kill me this time? Is it gonna take me away from my children?” Speaking of which, my children both have pre-existing conditions from birth: one cardiac, one thyroid.

“What happens if I lose my job? I’m very fortunate, Sir. I have a really good job and I have really good health insurance. And we could all have peace of mind. But now my wife who every day is wondering if she’s getting cancer. “Is it happening now? Oh, it didn’t happen— what about now?” now also has to contend with, “What if my husband loses his job?”

“If I lose my job, I can’t afford Cobra. We can’t afford to get private insurance. We get it from my employer. If I lose it, it’s gone. If I lose my job on a Monday, if I’m lucky enough to find a job on Tuesday, which never happens, they will not have insurance ready for me. I will not be eligible for three to six months. If I lapse my coverage within 63 days, suddenly, I’m in a high-risk pool.

“My pre-existing conditions, which I don’t give a (poop) about—come after me. Come after me, I don’t care. But you came after my wife. You came after my wife and kids.

“I work in healthcare and I know it’s complicated. The only one who doesn’t know it’s complicated is the orange-haired buffoon sitting in the White House. And you’re working with him to take something that he doesn’t understand, that he won’t be responsible for, because he’s going to be fine.

“You’re working with him and you’re working with (Paul) Ryan—you’re working with people who don’t care about us!

“You want to make something better? You could have made the ACA better, directly. You could have made sure that all the funding you’re saying we need right now—just put it in there! Introduce a bill. Show me what you are made of!

“Healthcare is not a “good.” You do not buy insurance the same way you buy a car or the same way you buy a house. This is the point—health insurance as a for-profit business is immoral. When I’m drowning and you insist I pay before you will save me? That’s immoral, Sir!

The first words you said in Waretown (New Jersey), “I’m not Donald Trump.” Well, I got an orange
wig you might as well put it on. Just sit on down! You’re done!”

* * *

Again, “the mean season” is coming. What you must realize is that it is not about votes any longer – it is about lives. Selah.

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